A More Invisible Security Risk: Air

by Gabriel Neely

Statistics can often present a cold and detached understanding of conflict and chaos. At the same time, it offers needed perspective in times of fear. We have experienced a busy year of shattering violence, and the country continues entrenched and emotional debate over gun control and terrorism. Not to downplay the gravity of these layered issues, but an arguably greater danger remains.

Gun violence and terrorism are crucial issues to manage, but do they necessitate such a large portion of attention, worry, political capitalization, and dialogue? Let’s take a collected step back and find some perspective, for the battles of our time also include an entrenched campaign to organized our society in a clean, sustainable, and healthy way. It would be great if this too was a patriotic cause, a unified effort, something we applaud when victorious.

Fresno, CA – One of the worst cities in the U.S. for air pollution.Image Credit: David Jordan at en.wikipedia

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One Comment to “A More Invisible Security Risk: Air”

Yes. What an issue. Living in Patagonia, AZ, where the air is some of the purest in the country… it is difficult for me to see the currently unfolding attempt for mining projects to move in to the surrounding hills. Yet at the same time, the people whose land this is (much more so than mine at least), the people who have been here for decades, living on this land, enduring while the privileged folks move in to take advantage of the tourism…. well, they just may want those mining projects to come through. For they are unemployed and struggling…. It’s tough to know what is right these days. Bridging the gap, the cultural gap, is essential to understanding how we can preserve land while meeting the needs of the real locals.